Profiling microalgal cultures growing on municipal wastewater and fertilizer media in raceway photobioreactors

[Display omitted] •Both media developed spontaneous microalgae blooms and showed the presence of algal grazers.•Reactors showed sanitizing activity, though some target organisms were found in outlet flow.•Retained pathogens are released in the outlet with only few settled in the biomass.•qPCR and NG...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bioresource technology 2022-09, Vol.360, p.127619-127619, Article 127619
Main Authors: Clagnan, Elisa, D'Imporzano, Giuliana, Dell'Orto, Marta, Sanchez-Zurano, Ana, Acién-Fernandez, Francisco Gabriel, Pietrangeli, Biancamaria, Adani, Fabrizio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Microalgae
Next generation sequencing
Pathogens
Raceway photobioreactor
Waste management
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Summary:[Display omitted] •Both media developed spontaneous microalgae blooms and showed the presence of algal grazers.•Reactors showed sanitizing activity, though some target organisms were found in outlet flow.•Retained pathogens are released in the outlet with only few settled in the biomass.•qPCR and NGS identified additional risks overlooked by standard plate cultivation.•The necessity of posttreatments and protection devices was identified. Microalgae cultivation is proposed as an effective system for pathogens reduction and wastewater depuration, however, a full characterisation of the risks is still needed. Two raceways were inoculated with Scenedesmus, one using wastewater and the other using a fertilizer medium. Microbial community and pathogen presence were explored by next generation sequencing (NGS), commercial qPCR array and plate counts. These methods proved to be complementary for a full characterization of community structure and potential risks. Media and sampling locations contributed to shape communities and pathogenic loads. The main pathogenic genera detected were Arcobacter and Elizabethkingia (mainly in wastewater) with an important presence of Aeromonas (all samples). A lower presence of pathogens was detected in fertilizer samples, while wastewater showed a reduction from inlet to outlet. Raceways showed potential as an effective biotreatment, with most of the retained pathogens released in the outlet and only a minor part settled in the biomass.
ISSN:0960-8524
1873-2976
DOI:10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127619